Google launches Picasa Web Albums

Google has launched its Picasa Web Albums in a limited beta test that requires an invite via your Gmail account before diving into it. Google is offering a free account with around 250MB of space (equivalent to 1000 photos). Plonking down $25 per annum will net you an additional 6GB of storage space – that’s 25,000 photos for the mathematically challenged. Other features include the label and star system used in Gmail as well as password protected collections to keep personal photos safe from prying eyes. More features after the jump. • Move and re-name pictures from inside Picasa
• One-click web upload using Picasa’s new “Web Album” button
• Free storage space to post and share approximately 1000 photos, with the option to upgrade to more space
• High-quality photos, automatically resized and optimized to fill available screen space
• Pre-loaded images enable quick scrolling using arrow keys, and mimic a desktop experience of “flipping” through photos, even on the web
• End-to-end photo management that makes it easy to download uploaded photos back to your computer